Machine for making chains



April 22, 1941- F. A. OLMSTEAD 2,239,114

MACHINE FOR IAKING CHAINS Filed Aug. 2, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. atone/1Q Omsmvo ATTORNEYS Ap 1941- F. A. OLMSTEAD 2,239,114

MACHINE FOR IAKING CHAINS Filed Aug. 2, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 f M j/mm Ava M ATTORNEYS April 22, 1941. F. A. OLMSTEAD MACHINE FOR IAKING CHAINS Filed Aug. 2, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS April 1941- F. A. OLMSTEAD 2,239,114

MACHINE FOR MAKING CHAINS Filed Aug. 2, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 I ll k" I I 258 26:? 262 [20.2 56.7

561.6 INVENTOR.

April 1941- I F. A. OLMSTEAD 2,239,114

MACHINE FOR IAKING CHAINS- Filed Aug. 2, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 f BY j wf m wfwf ATTORNEY6 April 1941- F. A. OLMSTEAD 2,239,114

MACHINE FOR IAKING CHAINS FiledAug. 2, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

/CK/4. am'zzwa ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 22, 1941 MACHINE FOR MAKING CHAINS Frederick A. Olmstead, Cleveland Heights, Ohio,

minor to The Hodell Chain Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application August 2, 1939, Serial No. 287,987

3 Glaims.

The present invention relates to welded chain links, and more particularly to a method and machine for making the same.

Heretoi'ore in the art. the heat produced in electrically welding the butt ends of the chain links affected or changed the characteristics of a large portion, if not all, of the material or metal of the link. This is especially true of heat treated links and chains made therefrom, and the principal object of the present invention is the provision of a method of butt welding chain links which will leave a maximum amount of the material of the link in its original condition and which method is especially applicable to high speed production and improved quality.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved machine for producing welded chain links or chains comprising welded links which will be simple and rugged in construction, reliable in operation and which will, have a high production of links or chains of improved quality.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates from the following description of the preferred embodiment thereof described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying the present invention and suitable for practicing the present method.

Fig. 2 is a plan sectional view of the machine shown in Fig. 1 approximately on the line 2--2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-4 of Fig. 2 with portions shown in elevation.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line l.! of Fig.3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5--5 of Fig.3.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 8-6 of Fig.2.

Fig. 'l is a section on the line 11 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged front elevation of a portion of Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a portion of Fig. 1, with parts shown in section, on the line 5-9 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view approximately on the line Il-I0 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 11 is a wiring diagram of the electrical circuits of the machine.

The machine herein shown and described is particularly adapted for making electrically butt welded chain from previously assembled links.

Referring to the drawings, the reference character A designates the bed of the machine, which bed is supported a convenient distance above the floor by suitable legs B. The assembled links designated generally by the reference C are fed through the machine from right to left, as viewed in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, by feeding mechanism designated generally by the reference character D and tensioning mechanism E. As alternate links are intermittently advanced into welding position, that is, to a position intermediate the upper electrodes l0 and II and the lower electrodes l2 and iii the electrodes are moved to engage opposite sides of the butt ends of the blank in a manner hereinafter more specifically referred to, the electrical current is instantaneously applied, and the adjacent butt ends are forced together by the members it and I5 which advance automatically into engagement with opposite ends of the link after the link comes to rest in the welding position. As soon as the weld is completed, the electrodes are moved free of the link, the members l4 and i5 retracted, and the next alternate link moved into welding position. According to the present invention, the various operations referred to above are performed at a high rate of speed and the welding current is such that only a small amount of the material of the link adjacent the weld is affected.

The chain feeding mechanism D comprises a rectangular member l6 slidably supported on a member ll fixed to the upper surface of the bed A, which member also carries a guide i8 for the chain, located in a groove in its upper surface. The member I6 has an aperture l9 therein through which the chain passes, and is provided with a pawl pivotally supported on a pin 2| fixed therein. The pawl 20 is so formed and constructed that it engages the rear end of a vertical link when the member I 6 is moved towards the left, as viewed in Figs. 1, 2 or 3, and rides over the succeeding vertical link when the member i6 is moved in the reverse direction. The member I6 is adapted to be reciprocated to intermittently advance the links to be welded into the welding position and to remove the welded links therefrom by a cam 22 carried by a transversely extending shaft 23 rotatably supported in suitable Journal boxes on the bed A. The cam 22 is continuously engaged by a roller 25 on a lever 26 pivotally supported on a pin 21' fixed in a boss 28 formed on the left hand end of the member II. The upper end of the lever 2i is connected to the member it by a link 30.

which includes a turnbuckleiil for adjusting the length thereof. The roller is located below the pivot 21 and is held in engagement with the cam 22 by a tension spring 32 fixed to the lower end of the lever 26 and to one of the legs or some other suitable part of the frame of the machine.

The shaft is operatively connected to a longitudinally extending shaft 33 rotatably supported in journal boxes at the front of the bed A, by miter gears 34 and 35. The shaft 33 is in turn operatively connected to a transversely extending shaft 36 supported in suitable bearings at the right hand side of the bed A by miter gears 31 and 38. As shown the shaft 36 is driven from a shaft 40 rotatably supported in suitable bearings along the rear right hand part of the bed A, to which shaft it is connected by miter gears M and 42. The shaft 40 is adapted to be driven from a drive pulley 43.

In order to prevent the feeding mechanism from overfeeding the chain, tensioning mechanism E previously mentioned, is provided. This mechanism includes a pawl 46 pivotally connected to a member 41 having a reduced portion 48 which projects through a horizontal slot 49 in a vertically projecting member 50 bolted to a member 5! fixed to the upper surface of the bed A. The member 41 is adapted to be adjusted longitudinally of the slot 49 by adjusting screws 52 and 53, the adjacent ends of which engage opposite sides of the reduced portion 48 of the member 41.

The member 41 is adapted to be secured in any adjusted position by a bolt 54 adapted to clamp the same against the member 50. The free end of the pawl 46 is adapted to normally engage the front or left hand end of a vertical link and prevent the chain from moving forward. The pawl 46 is adapted to be'raised intermittently to allow the chain to be fed, by a lever 55 pivotally carried by a shouldered bolt 56 fixed in a suitable aperture in the upper end of a vertically extending member 51 attached to the upper surface of the bed A. The left hand end of the lever 55, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3, projects underneath a pin 58 fixed in the pawl 46 and the right hand end of the lever 55 which is bent at right angles to the main portion thereof carries a roller 60 adapted to be engaged by a cam 6i fixed to the shaft 36. The pawl 46 is continuously urged in a downward direction by a tension spring 62 fixed thereto and to the bed A. The construction is such that upon each rotation of the shaft 36, the cam 6i actuates the lever 55 to raise the pawl 45 for a short period of time, during which period the chain is advanced or fed one step, that is two links, by the feeding mechanism D previously described.

As shown, the electrodes are adapted to be reciprocated to engage and disengage the links by fluid pressure means, which in the present instance, is a combination of compressed air and 011. Similar electrode assemblies are employed above and below the path of the chain, so only one will be referred to in detail. The upper electrodes I0 and I I are fixed to the lower ends of the members 10 and 1!, respectively, which members are identical except for the fact that they converge towards their lower ends, making one of them right hand and the other left hand. Aside from this. difference, the mechanism for supporting and moving the electrodes of the upper electrode assembly is identical and only the left hand mechanism will be described in detail.

4 The member 10 is fixed to the lower tapered end of a plunger or piston 13 reciprocable within a cylinder 14 pivotally connected to the lower end of a member 15 by a pivot pin 16. The member 15 is bolted to a platell slidably supported on a plate or bracket 18 fixed to the upper end of vertical members 19, the lower ends of which are secured to the bed A. The piston 13 is moved in a downward direction by fluid pressure in a manner hereinafter more specifically referred to, to cause the electrode I0 to engage the link to be welded, which is the position shown in Fig. 8, and is returned to its original position by a compression spring interposed between a washer BI at the upper end of a threaded rod 82 underneath the nuts 33 and 85 and a member 84 fixed to the lower end of the cylinder 14. The pivot pin 15 permits the electrodes to move along with the ends of the link as they are forced together by the members I4 and 65 during the welding operation, as will be hereinafter apparent.

At the end of the welding operation, the electrodes are returned to their original position by a compression spring 86 interposed between a washer 81 secured to the lower end of a bolt 88 by a nut 89 and a member 90 fixed to the upper end of the cylinder 14. The bolt 88 is fixed in a bracket 98 which in turn is secured to the member 11. The tension of the spring 86 can be varied by the adjusting nut 89 adapted to be secured in any adjusted position by the lock nut 92. The position to which the member 90, and in turn the electrode I0, are returned by the spring 80 is determined by nut 93 threaded on the bolt 88 above the member 90 and against which the member 90 is adapted to normally abut. The nut 93 can be secured in any adjusted position by a lock nut 94. The member or plate 11 is slidably supported on the bracket 18 and is adapted to be moved or adjusted vertically therealong by a threaded rod 95 rotatably supported in a boss 96 formed on the plate 18, the lower end of which rod is threaded into a suitable aperture in the plate 11. The upper end of the rod 95 is provided with a hand wheel 91 to facilitate adjustment of the plate 11 relative to the plate 18.

The upper end of the cylinder 14 is connected to the lower end of a cylinder I00 by a conduit MI. The cylinder I00 is open at its upper end and is formed integral with a member I02 which forms the lower end of a larger cylinder I 03 which surrounds the smaller cylinder I00. The small piston I05 which operates in the small cylinder I00 and the large piston I06 which operates in the large cylinder are rigidly connected together by a rod I01 and move as a unit. Both pistons are continuously urged in an upward direction by a compression spring I I0 located in the large cylinder underneath the piston. The large cylinder I03 is partly filled with oil and is in communication with the small cylinder I00 by ports III formed in the wall of the cylinder I00, when the pistons are in their elevated position. A sight gauge II2 gives a visual indication of the amount of oil in the cylinder I03 which oil is always maintained above the ports I I I.

The upper end of the cylinder I03 is adapted to be connected alternately to a high pressure air line H5 and to atmosphere through the medium of a solenoid-operated valve H6, the solenoid II1 of which is periodically energized in timed relation to the other operations of the machine, as will be later apparent. .The valve H6 is of commercial construction and will not be described in detail. Suflice it to say that the valve contains three chambers H8, H9 and I20, the first of which is in constant communication with the upper end of the cylinder I03 by a conduit Illinamemberlll whichformsabaseforthe valve H and its operating solenoid III. The

closed valves I and I20, respectively. The

valves I20'and I20 are continuously urged into a closed position by compression springs I21 and I20, respectively, operatively connected thereto. The upper end of the valves project through the housing and engage the underside of the lever I00 pivotally supported on a pin IOI fixed in the valve casing intermediate the valves I20 and I20. The left hand end of the lever I00, as viewed in Fig. 9, is secured to the armature I32 of the solenoid ill by a link Ill. The construction is such that. when the solenoid III is energized, the inlet valve I 20 is opened, connecting the upper end of the cylinder I00 with the high pressure air line IIO. This forces the pistons I05 and I00 in a. downward direction, placing the oil trapped in the cylinder I00 under extremely high pressure, which pressure is transmitted through the conduit IOI to the upper end of the plunger or piston I3 which moves the piston to engage the electrode I0 with the link to be welded.

Upon deenergization of the solenoid III the lever I is rotated in a clockwise manner about the pivot pin I3I by a compression spring I surrounding a rod I36 fixed in the member I22 and engaging against a rocker member I31 interposed therebetween and the underside of the member or lever I30. Movement of the member I30 in a clockwise direction closes the inlet valve I 25 and opens the exhaust valve I26, relieving the pressure in the cylinder I03. The spring IIO returns the pistons to their original positions, and the electrode I0 is returned to its original position by the spring 60. The rotation of the lever I30 about its pivot pin I3I in a clockwise direction is limited by a member I34 underneath a. nut I36 on the upper end of the rod I36 and adapted to be secured in any adjusted position by a lock nut I39. The energization of the solenoid III is controlled by a normally open switch I40 fixed to a plate I welded or otherwise secured to the base of the machine A. The switch I40 is periodically closed instantaneously in timed relation to the other operations of the machine by a cam I42 fixed to the shaft 33.

As previously stated the mechanism for supporting and moving the right hand electrode II is similar to the mechanism just described for supporting and moving the left hand electrode I0 and the corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference characters with a prime mark afilxed thereto. The conduit IOI which connects the upper end of the cylinder I4 with the lower end of the cylinder I00 also connects the upper end of the cylinder I4 with the cylinder I00. Both electrodes I0 and II operate in unison and engage the link to be welded at opposite sides of the weld. While the electrodes are in contact with the link a predetermined number of cycles of alternating electric current is passed therethrough and the ends of the link forced together to form the weld. .The number of cycles of current employed is preferably from approximately two to ten cycles, depending upon the size of the chain, etc. The electrodes I0 and I I are connected in series circuit with the secondary I45 of a welding transformer I46 provided with a plurality of taps through the medium of which the voltage thereof may be varied in steps of of a volt from about 7 to 8 volts.

The power current is carried and interrupted by a plurality of gas discharge power devices or tubes I40 and I00 which perform the function of a rapid action, single pole, single throw switch connected directly in series with the power source and the primary I" of the welding transformer I40. Any gas discharge device which has a control element and a circuit responsive thereto and which has such operating characteristics that the controlled circuit passes substantially no current until fired by a small ignition current in the control circuit at the beginning of each half cycle of current in the control circuit, and which thereafter passes substantially full current for the duration of that particular half cycle, may be employed. The gas discharge devices or tubes I40 and I00 illustrated are of the type known commercially as single anode ignitron and consist of an envelope containing a pool of mercury at the lower end, which is the cathode, an anode at the upper end, and a small ignition electrode which dips into the mercury pool cathode. The tubes I40 and I50 which individually conduct in but one direction, are connected in parallel and inversely to one another, the combination serving to pass alternating current. Timing is accomplished entirely by an electronic circuit which functions during successive closures of a switch I5I fixed to the plate I and adapted to be closed in timed relation to the other operations of the machine by a cam disk I52 fixed to the shaft 33. This timing circuit measures out a predetermined number of cycles of welding current at each operation of the switch I5I. In addition, welding current is initiated at a predetermined point in the voltage wave, regardless of time of closure of the welding switch. This point is made the natural zero of this current, that is, the power factor angle of the welding machine, and is of importance in short time welding.

Referring to the left hand tube I49, see Fig. 11, the tube consists of an anode I53 connected to a conductor I54, a mercury pool I55 which is the cathode and which is connected to one line I56 of the power source, and an igniter I5'I which is connected to lead I58. When a current is passed from the igniter I51 to the cathode I55, the space inside the tube between the anode I53 and the cathode I55 is made conducting by ionization and if at that instant the potential of the anode I53 is suiilciently positive relative to the cathode I55, current will fiow through the tube from the anode I50 to the cathode I55. After the flow of anodecathode current is established, the magnitude of the current is limited onLy by the impedance of the welding transformer I46. The current will continue to flow through the tube during the remainder of the half cycle of A. C. voltage, during which the potential of the other line I59 of the power source is positive in relation to line 956, and may persist during a part of the next half cycle even though at that time the voltage of lead I06 has become negative relative to lead I56. The duration of current flow depends upon the power factor of the welding transformer I46. If the power factor is low, the current will continue to flow during nearly one-half of the following half cycle. If the power factor is high, the duration of current flow is decreased. In order to obtain the same amount of current during eachhalf of the cycle, 1. e., through each of tubes I 40 and I50, it is important that during the flrst half cycle tube I48 be started at a voltage angle corresponding with the power factor of the load, which is accomplished in a manner hereinafter described.

The igniter current is supplied by two gas discharge devices or tubes I60 and I6I known commercially as KU-676 Thyratron tubes. Tube I60 is connected between the anode I53 and the igniter I51 of tube I49. Tube I6I is connected between the anode and the igniter oi. tube I50. The tube I60 consists of an anode I62 connected to conductor I54, a heater I64 connected to conductors I58 and I65, a cathode I66 connected to conductor I 58, and a grid I61 connected to a conductor I68. The tube I60 is filled with mercury vapor, and conducts or does not conduct current depending upon the voltage between the grid I61 and the cathode I66. If the grid voltage is more negative than approximately 6 volts, the tube is an insulator and no current flows between the anode I62 and the cathode I66. If the grid voltage is made more positive than 6 volts, the tube becomes ionized and conducts current, provided the anode potential is positive in relation to the cathode after the flow of anode current is started, the grid does not have any control of the tube, and anode current therefore flows until the anode potential is lowered below the arc drop across the tube, whichis approximately volts. Tube I60 is connected between the anode I53 and the ignlter I51 of tube I49. When the grid voltage of tube I60 is made more positive than 6 volts, igniter current flows through tube I60. When this occurs tube I49 is made conducting and the voltage drop between conductors I54 and I56 is decreased to equal the arc drop across tube I49. Because of this decrease in voltage, the igniter current through tube I60 is interrupted.

Tube I6I controls the igniter circuit I 69 for tube I50. The grid circuit for tube I6I consists of a negative voltage of approximately 50 volts obtained from a rectifier circuit consisting of transformer winding I10, rectifier HI, and the smoothing capacitor I12. This negative voltage normally prevents current from flowing through tube I6I. Winding I13 of the grid transformer I14 is also connected in series with the grid of tube 1 I6I through a conductor I15, resistance I16, and

conductor I11. When current flows through tube I49 and through the welding transformer I46, the voltage of lead I54 becomes positive relative to lead I59 at the end of the half cycle of current flow because of the inductance of the load. This makes conductor I15 of the grid transformer I14 positive relative to conductor I19, thus making the grid of tube I6I positive. For this reason, as soon as the load current is supplied, tube I49 becomes zero and full line voltage is applied across conductors I56 and I80 with conductor I56 positive, the grid of tube I6I already positive, and tube I6I therefore becomes ionized and conducts igniter current to tube I50, thus starting tube I50. From the foregoing it may be seen that tube I6I and tube I50 are controlled by a follow-up circuit initiated by current flow through tube I49, so that each half cycle of current conducted through tube I49 is followed by one-half cycle of current through tube I50.

The purpose of the timing circuit presently to be described is to make the grid of tube I60 positive at the proper phase angle, as determined by the power factor of the load, and to again make the grid of tube I60 negative after a predetermined number of cycles of A. C. current have passed through the load. The timing'circuit employs two tubes I83 and I84 known commercially as KU-627 Thyratron" tubes and one full wave mercury vapor filled rectifier tube I85 known commercially as "type 83. The rectifier tube I85 is connected across a 700 volt center tapped transformer winding I86 of transformer I81, and supplies D. C. voltage to conductors I90 and I9I, conductor I90 being of positive polarity. The A. C. ripples in the rectified voltage are smoothed out by means of reactor I92 and capacitor I83. Contacts I95 of the timing relay I96 are connected in series with the reactor 50 that no D. C. voltage appears across capacitor I93 until the relay contacts I95 are closed.

The grid circuit for tube I 60 may be traced from the cathode I94, to the tap of resistor I98, to conductors I9I, 200, 2M, and I68 to grid I61. It will be seen that a negative D. C. voltage supplied by rectifier 202 and smoothed out by capacitor 203 is always connected in the grid circuit of tube I60, and when contacts I95 are open, the D. C. voltage acrom capacitor 203 prevents tube I60 from conducting current. When contacts I95 are closed, an additional negative voltage consisting of the voltage drop across the top of resistor I98 and conductor I9I is introduced in the grid circuit for tube I60.

When the weld is to be started, relay 205 is energized by the externally mounted operating switch I5I opening the normally closed contacts 206 of relay 205, opening the discharge circuit in parallel with capacitor 201 while closing the normally open contacts 208 of relay 205, and applying D. C. voltage to conductor 209 to which are connected the anodes 2I0 and 2H of tubes I83 and 'I84, respectively. Tube I83 is the start tube and is controlled by the voltage produced by the secondary winding 2I2 of the impulse transformer 2I3. The grid circuit for tube I83 may be traced from 200 to 20I, 2I5, and 2I6 to the grid 2I1. Because of the negative voltage across capacitor 203, the grid 2I1 of tube I83 becomes positive only during a few degrees of voltage angle when a sharp positive voltage impulse appears across impulse transformer winding 2I2. The location of this voltage impulse can be adjusted by means of resistor 2I8, so that with the resistor shorted out the impulse occurs at 90 degrees phase angle, and with all of resistor 2 I8 in the circuit, the impulse occurs at 15 degrees phase angle, thus giving means to adjust the initial firing to agree with the power factor of the load.

After closure of the contacts 208 of relay 205 it will, therefore, be apparent that tube I83 breaks down and conduct current the first time a positive voltage impulse appears across the winding 2I2. When tube I83 breaks down, lead 200 assumes the potential of lead 209, except for the arc drop through tube I83, thus making the grid of tube I60 positive and in this manner starting the welding cycle. Current now flows through rectifier 220, and the timing potentiometer 22I to capacitor 201, and depending upon the adjustment of the timing potentiometer, capacitor 201 is charged up with lead 222 positive relative to lead I9I. The more resistance in the timing potentiometer 22I, the longer it will take for the voltage across capacitor 201 to reach a given value.

The stop tube ing of the negative and conductor I9I, capacitor 201. finally reached I84 has a grid voltage consistvoltage between conductor I58 and the positive voltage across When the capacitor voltage has a value to make the grid voltage of tube J64 more positive than 4 volts, tube I64 breaks down and short-circuits resistor 223 and the upper part of resistor I33. This imposes a high negative voltage on the grid of tube I66, and welding current ceases to flow.

The purpose of the normally closed contacts 266 of relay 205 is to discharge capacitor 261 when relay 205 is deenergized between each welding operation. The power tubes I49 and I50 are water cooled and in order to prevent operation of the device without water a normally open flow switch 225 is connected in series with the switch II. The control mechanism, with the exception of the timing potentiometer 22I which is located at the welding machine, is housed in a suitable cabinet, not shown, behind the machine. The welding transformer I46 is positioned directly be-. hind the upper electrode assembly and the opposite terminals thereof are connected to the electrodes I0 and II, respectively, by heavy flexible conductors, not shown. The taps for varying the voltage of the welding current are arranged on a panel 226 located in some convenient place adjacent the machine. In the present instance the panel 226 is secured to the frame of the machine by angle irons 221. The electrical equipment is commercially available and per se forms no part of the present invention. That illustrated and described is known commercially as a Westinghouse Type SP-ll Ignitron Spot Welding Timer. The connections shown are for operation from a 220 volt power source, however, the equipment is adaptable for operation with other voltages.

The lower electrode assembly (see Fig. 3) comprising the electrodes I2 and I3 is similar to the upper electrode assembly comprising the electrodes I0 and II already described, with the exception of the fact that in some instances it has been found desirable to maintain the lower electrodes stationary. For this purpose the members 230 and 23I of the lower electrode assembly which corresponds with the members and II of the upper electrode assembly are provided with threaded apertures adapted to receive bolts 232 and 233, the lower ends of which bolts engage the members 234 and 235, respectively, which correspond to the members 84 and 84' of the upper electrode assembly. When the bolts 232 and 233 are in position the lower electrodes l2 and I3 remain in the upper position irrespective of the position of the upper electrodes I6 and II. When the bolts 232 and 233 are removed the lower electrodes operate in unison with the upper electrodes, since the conduit IIlI communicates with the lower ends of the cylinders of the lower electrode assembly as well as with the upper ends of the cylinders of the upper electrode assembly.

The lower electrode I2 is connected in parallel circuit with the upper electrode III and the lower electrode I3 is connected in parallel circuit with the upper electrode II. All four electrodes are water cooled. For this purpose water is conducted to the upper electrode III by a conduit 236 connected thereto and to a water main. From the upper electrode III the water is conducted through the medium of a conduit 23! to the lower electrode I2 from which electrode it is conducted to a drain by a conduit 236. In a similar manner the upper electrode II is connected to a water main by a conduit 239. The upper and lower electrodes II and I3 are connected by a conduit 246 and the lower electrode i3 is also connected to a drain by the conduit 238. Suitable means is provided for controlling and regulatingthe supply of water.

As previously stated, the open ends of the link are forced together during the welding operation by the levers or members I4 and I5 pivotally supported on suitable pins 250 and 25I fixed in a member 252 slidably supported in a groove formed in the upper surface of the bed A. The member 252 is adapted to be recipro cated at right angles to the direction of movement of the chain by a cam 253 fixed to the shaft 33- and continuously engaged by a roller 254 carried by a boss 255 formed integral with the member 252. The members I4 and I5 are adapted to be rotated about their pivots 256 and 25I in timed relation to the other operations of the machine by a wedge-shaped member 256 slidably carried by a member 264. The wedgeshaped end of the member 256 engages between two rollers 25! and 258 rotatably supported in the rear ends of the levers I4 and I5, respectively. The member 264 and in turn the wedgeshaped member 256 are continuously urged towards the bottom of the sheet, as viewed in Fig. 2, by tension springs 260 connected thereto and to a bar 26I connected to the frame of the machine.

The members 256 and 264 are moved in the reverse direction in timed relation to the other operations of the machine by a cam 262 fixed to the shaft 33 and continuously engaged by a roller 263 rotatably supported on a pin fixed in the member 264. The member 264 is operatively connected to the member 256 through the medium of a heavy U-shaped spring member 265 which is adapted to provide a certain amount of give and thus compensate for variations in size of the chain links being welded. The construction is such that as a chain link to be welded is brought to the welding position, the cam 253 moves the members I4 and I5 inwardly so that the forward ends thereof, which are shaped to grip the ends of the links, are in a position to engage the link and force the butt ends of the link together. The electrodes are moved into welding position and the welding current passed therethrough. At the proper time, the wedgeshaped member 256 is advanced by the cam 262 to spread the rear ends of the members I4 and I 5, thus causing the forward ends thereof to force the butt ends of the link together.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described with considerable detail, I do not wish to be limited to the particular construction shown which may be varied within the scope of the invention. It is my intention to cover hereby all adaptations, modifications, and combinations thereof which come within the practice of those skilled in the art to which the invention relates and I particularly point out and claim as my invention the followmg:

1. In a machine for making welded wire chain, the combination of a frame, means for intermittently moving a plurality of assembled wire chain links through a welding station, a plurality of fluid pressure motors comprising relatively reciprocable members, electrodes carried by one of said members of each of said motors said electrodes being adapted to be moved into engagement with opposite ends of the wire of a chain link in the welding station upon the application of fluid pressure to said motors, means for supplying to and exhausting fluid pressure from said motors in timed relation to the movement of the chain links through the welding station, means including an electronic control number 01' cycles of alternating current while said electrodes are in contact therewith, means for moving the ends the wire of a chain link in the welding station towards each other while said electrodes are engaged therewith, and means for movably connecting said members of said fluid pressure motors other than the members to which the electrodes are operatively connected to said frame whereby said electrodes may move with the end' of the wire of a chain link with which they are engaged.

2. In a machine for making welded wire chain, the combination of a frame, means for intermittently moving a plurality of assembled wire chain links through a welding station, a plurality of hydraulic motors comprising relatively reciprocable members, electrodes carried by one 01' said members of each of said motors, said electrodes being adapted to be moved into engagement with opposite ends of the wire of a chain link in the welding station upon the application of hydraulic pressure to said motors, means for supplying to and exhausting hydraulic pressure from said hydraulic motors in relation to the movement of the chain links through the welding station, means including an electronic control device for subjecting a chain link in the welding station to a welding current of a limited number of cycles of alternating current while said electrodes are in contact therewith, means for moving the ends of the wire of a chain link in the welding station towards each other while said electrodes are engaged therewith, and means for pivotally connecting said members of said hydraulic motors other than the members to which the electrodes are operatively connected to said frame whereby said electrodes may move with the end of the wire or a. chain link with which they are engaged.

3. In a machine for making welded wire chain, the combination or a frame, means for intermittently moving a plurality or assembled wire chain links through a welding station, a plurality of hydraulic motors comprising relatively reciprocable members, electrodes carried by one or said members 011 each of said motors, said electrodes being adapted to be moved into engagement with opposite ends of the wire of a chain link in the welding station upon the application of hydraulic pressure to said motors, an air pressure actuated motor, means including a valve for supplying to and exhausting air pressure from said air pressure actuated motor including means for actuating said valve in relation to the movement of the chain links through the welding station, a reciprocating hydraulic pump, a conduit connecting said hydraulic motors and said hydraulic pump, means for operatively connecting said air pressure actuated motor with said hydraulic pump whereby the application of air pressure to said air pressure actuated motor operates said fluid pump to create hydraulic pressure in said hydraulic motors, means including an electronic control device for causing a predetermined number of cycles of alternating current to flow through said electrodes while said electrodes are in contact with a chain link in the welding station, means for moving the ends of the wire 0! a chain link in the welding station towards each other while said electrodes are en ged therewith, and means for pivotally connecting said members of said hydraulic motors other than the members to which the electrodes are operatively connected to said frame whereby said electrodes may move with the end of the wire of a chain link with which they are engaged.

FREDERICK A. OLMSTEAD. 

